Sign in Subscribe

Local Government

Articles in this section cover Bloomington city council, the mayor's office, Monroe County's board of commissioners, county council, and all the other local units.

Bloomington Transit looks to boost micro-transit numbers with free downtown zone trips

Bloomington Transit looks to boost micro-transit numbers with free downtown zone trips

Two ends of the public transportation spectrum got attention at Bloomington Transit's regular meeting on Tuesday—service offered through a smartphone app to serve a single passenger at a time, and regular fixed route service provided by 60-foot articulated buses, carrying up to 100 passengers at a time.

Vote centers nixed again in Monroe County for second time in a decade and a half

Vote centers nixed again in Monroe County for second time in a decade and a half

On Monday night, a 2–1 vote by Monroe County's election board, after the second of two public hearings, ended the chance that vote centers would be established for Monroe County for the 2026 election cycle. That's because under state law, the decision required a 3–

Bloomington electeds talk budget outcomes as cheese gets sliced thinner

Bloomington electeds talk budget outcomes as cheese gets sliced thinner

On Wednesday night, Bloomington mayor Kerry Thomson and some councilmembers sat down in council chambers around tables arranged in a rectangle, to talk about the 2026 budget. Joining them were deputy mayor Gretchen Knapp, city controller Jessica McClellan, Eric Reedy, the city's financial consultant, and city clerk Nicole

$6.25 paid, $120 fined: User error with parking payment app means pricey farewell 'gift' from Bloomington to recent IU grad

$6.25 paid, $120 fined: User error with parking payment app means pricey farewell 'gift' from Bloomington to recent IU grad

In 2024, about $470,000 worth of coins were fed into Bloomington's roughly 1,450 parking meters in the downtown area. That's about 17% of the $2.85 million in total revenue the city received from parking meters. The other two methods of payment are swiping

Crawford Apartments supportive housing reaching 'critical action point'—one-third of units in 2 buildings noncompliant

Crawford Apartments supportive housing reaching 'critical action point'—one-third of units in 2 buildings noncompliant

At least 22 Bloomington residents who could be living in permanent supportive housing are staying on the street or in shelters, because 22 damaged units at Crawford Apartments on Henderson Street are now vacant, not in a condition to be occupied. The situation is not completely new, according to Anna

Bloomington OKs self-storage phasing after apartments in 176-unit complex

Bloomington OKs self-storage phasing after apartments in 176-unit complex

The 176-unit apartment complex called THIRD Apartments, on the eastern edge of town, has finished construction. The owner has now received formal approval from Bloomington's plan commission for a phasing plan that allows a 38,000-square-foot self-service storage facility to be built south of the apartment complex. The

Are parking fines a revenue center for the city of Bloomington?

Are parking fines a revenue center for the city of Bloomington?

A news release from the city of Bloomington in the first week of May announced a parking survey that's open through May 27. The release also includes a statement that describes how parking fines are a source of important revenue for the city of Bloomington, which helps pay